FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
As my love affair with soviet-era lenses continues, it seems that I am not alone in my appreciation of vintage glass and prices of such lenses have recently rocketed, as the practice of attaching old lenses to new cameras becomes more commonplace. Certain Helios models are referred to in eBay listings as having “swirly bokeh” or being “lomo” or a “bokeh monster”. Jupiter lenses are cited as being ideal for ‘street’ work and almost all find favour with enthusiasts looking for the cinema look as used by Denis Villeneuve in Dune and Zac Snyder in some of his films. As the lenses become more hard to find or become too expensive for my meagre pocket, I decided to look sideways, rather than further afield for other soviet lenses which might hold some appeal. Some years ago, I bought an Industar 50 pancake lens, more out of curiosity, as it was cheap and looked suitably antique. It was a L39 fit, as favoured by Leica, a brand slavishly emulated by Russian manufacturers. Although it was a squ...